Want to let in more light? Try adhesive window films for more sun without sacrificing privacy. Replace the standard ceiling fixture with a classic drum pendant light on a dimmer switch. Add a piece of real furniture. An armchair (if you have the room) or a small gleaming wood or marble table is a good choice for the classic bath. Amp up the exotic touches and pay attention to the sensory experience to create a spalike ambience in your own bathroom. Put your overhead light on a dimmer. Everything looks better in soft light. Choose a few beautiful hand‐painted tiles and prop them up on your sink backsplash or hang them on the wall as art. Splurge on nice towels. I suggest supersoft and luxuriously big bath sheets as well as fringed and knotted hammam‐style towels to hang by the sink.

Upholstered chairs at the ends. This is perhaps the most popular way to shake up a set and with good reason – it nearly always looks great. Choose matching side chairs for the long sides and put matching upholstered armchairs at the ends.

Consider a designer pack‐and‐go dining table. Plywood is lightweight and durable and a plywood table can be flat‐packed and assembled as needed at home. Your dining table then can be packed up and moved as necessary. Plus it works well in a home with modern Nordic or contemporary Asian style.

A bedroom is a very private space. Hotels know this and add a beautifully wrapped chocolate on the bedside table for that personal touch. The bedside table can tell a lot about a person. I love decorating these spaces because they are so personal. Bedside tables are important because they're the last thing you see when turning in for the night and the first thing you see when you wake. These small intimate spaces have to pack a visual punch by adding color and texture. At the same time they serve practical needs like holding our alarm clocks and eyeglasses. They come in all shapes and sizes different colors and styles. I've been asked many times about accessorizing these spaces. Here are some ideas for what I call the bedside vignette or in simple terms nightstands and the stuff we put on them. This is the area where you can really make a statement with lamps. I find that square lampshades or round lampshades that are 14 inches or less in diameter work best against a wall. Drawers are always great for storing things you need but don't want to get up for. I love this alternative lighting detail instead of a table lamp. A hanging chandelier on either side of the bed provides beautiful symmetry and frees the nightstand for other personal accessories. A pendant works just as well as a chandelier visually. The light wattage is lower though so I suggest using a pendant light in combination with can lighting. Stacked books look great with their colorful binding facing the room and are also good for elevating alarm clocks. This beautiful vignette is perfectly balanced with a lamp family photos fresh flowers and a candle.

Interior designer Letitia Holloway of Myers Designs and Debbie Wiener owner of Designing Solutions are well versed in this transformation and the complications that come with it. If you're thinking of turning your basement into an extra bedroom their tips and tricks can help. Insulate. The last thing you want is a noisy – and chilly – bedroom. "Spend a little extra and add good insulation to the walls” says Wiener. "One good night's sleep and you'll know you spent your money wisely.” Create emergency escape routes. Before beginning construction check your local building codes to learn what your basement's escape requirements are. The necessary routes can also enhance the room. "Installing large upper windows not only enhances the view but provides a great escape route” says Holloway. Look for the charm. Save money by leaving beams exposed or the ceiling unfinished – it will give your new cozy bedroom a feeling of distinction. Add visual height. Unfinished ceilings can also help add height to a space especially when painted a dark color. "Paint the ceiling dark and finish the rest of the room off as you would normally” says Holloway. "This type of ceiling works with a variety of aesthetics and the unfinished effect makes it feel higher than a drop or drywall style would.” Benjamin Moore's Baby Seal Black is one of Holloway's go‐to paint colors. Configure your layout wisely. Place the bed against an interior wall in the room. "Exterior walls change temperature meaning your bed will be cold in the winter and possibly through summer if your basement is below grade” says Wiener.

Air plants and succulents are having a real moment in design and they have the benefit of being easy to care for. If you and your teen are in the mood to tackle a crafty project I love this DIY air plant terrarium tutorial on Houzz. It's chic and easy the best combination! Update the homework zone. Ground the work area with a creative and useful chalkboard wall or include a large bulletin board for pinning up lists photos and inspiration. Pay attention to the ergonomics of the space as well making sure the chair and desk are at the right height. Good task lighting is essential and any additional storage you can squeeze into the space will help maintain order. At least consider a small filing crate and a basket for recycling. Add an entryway. In my experience most messes come from the junk we put down as soon as we enter a space. Help prevent the big chaotic pileup before it begins with a few preventative measures: A coat tree or wall hooks will hopefully keep those coats and bags off the floor and a dresser or table placed near the door can be a drop zone for mail keys and other odds and ends. Provide hangout space. If you have the room bring in a retired couch from the basement or attic. If space is tight try a fluffy area rug with a few big floor cushions instead. Add an unexpected touch. Every room should have something that immediately catches your eye or makes you smile and your teen's room is no exception. Make the room glow with a cluster of cheap and chic paper lanterns scoop up a funky neon sign or a vintage marquee letter at the flea market or frame a portrait of a favorite pet. Give hobbies and interests pride of place.

Don't overcrowd the space. Attic bedrooms are generally tighter spaces and if there are sloped ceilings the room can feel claustrophobic with too many furnishings. Add only what you need – less is definitely more in this case. Consider a two‐tone paint job. "Painting is always tricky when working with an attic space as the walls are often shortened and the ceiling space is greater than in most rooms” says Heron. "For a cozy feeling consider painting the walls a different color than the ceiling.” Or trick the eye by using all one color. "If you want the space to feel more spacious paint the ceiling and wall the same color but keep it to a light neutral or white” advises Heron. Nix the overhead lights. "Forget pot lights in the attic” says Heron. "Opt instead for table lamps or wall sconces; uplighting is a great way to play up a dramatic roofline".

Leave your shoes at the door. Now that your bedroom is clutter‐free and clean it's time to commit to keeping it that way. Start a no‐shoes policy – in your whole house if you can but at least in the bedroom. Place a table or basket outside your bedroom door to remind you to drop work materials cell phones and other gadgets before entering your new zone of calm. Create an organic bed. If you are in need of a new mattress (and can afford to spring for it) by all means go for one of the wonderful organic versions on the market today. But if not that doesn't mean you can't green up your bed. Try topping your mattress with a natural mattress pad and adding organic pillows and sheets. Organic goods are so mainstream now they can be found at all price points. Consider the walls and floors. While it does take more effort than any of the previous steps addressing your walls and floors is an important part of creating a more ecofriendly bedroom. If you are looking to change the wall color seek out paint containing low or no volatile organic compounds (VOCs). If you have old peeling paint that may contain lead use caution and seek professional guidance for the best way to cover it. For the floor I recommend choosing hard flooring over wall‐to‐wall carpeting which is notoriously difficult to clean and tends to contain VOCs. If you already have wall‐to‐wall carpeting in place you can choose to have it removed or simply cover much of it with a natural fiber area rug. Choose the right color palette for your needs.